Bouygues Construction’s sales increase despite property market woes

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Like for like and at constant exchange rates, the construction business’s sales increased by 4%.

A strong performance in its International Building division (up 15%) helped Bouygues Construction’s sales to increase 5%.

Sales at Colas rose by 3%, driven by a 6% increase in its rail activities and a 3% lift in roads.

But the conglomerate’s property division, Bouygues Immobilier, saw a 14% drop in sales compared to 2022, reflecting a “challenging market environment”.

Current operating profit from activities (COPA) in the construction business was €851 million ($923.7 million) at the end of 2023, up €70 million year on year. Bouygues Construction’s COPA was flat at €281 million ($305 million). Colas recorded a COPA of €542 million ($588.3 million), up €74 million ($80.3 million) on 2022. Bouygues Immobilier’s COPA fell to €28 million ($30.4 million), down from €37 million ($40.2 million) the year before.

The total backlog for the construction businesses climbed 4% to €28.4 billion ($30.8 billion), with a 6% increase in Bouygues Construction to €15 billion ($16.3 billion), a 6% increase for Colas to €12.4 billion ($13.5 billion), and a 32% fall for Bouygues Immobilier to €985 million ($1.1 billion).